Laser Guide Star Images of the Galactic Center

Caption: The Laser Guide Star Adaptive
Optics System at the W. M. Keck Observatory takes infrared
images of the Galactic Center. The image above is taken
in the L'-band (3.8 microns), is 10 arcseconds in size and
has a resolution of 82 milliarcseconds. At 3.8 microns,
the Strehl ratio was measured at 75%, double the previous
performance at this wavelength. A Strehl ratio of 100%
represents a perfect, fully-corrected image. At K' (2.1
microns) the Strehl ratio was measured at 35%, a modest
improvement, and the resolution was 56 milliarcseconds.

Other Images:

Laser vs Natural Guide Star L' Image (high resolution eps format available
here) The LGS image has a total integration time of 8
minutes while the NGS image has 150 minutes. The plus sign
marks the position of Sgr A* in both images.